We’ve been talking about getting a touring vehicle for some time. The romantic notion of travelling the highways and byways of North America has appealed to us and to do so you need the right car. Vans were in the discussion mix, but a mini van wasn’t ticking all the boxes and an actual rv type van wasn’t practical. Solution: a large SUV that will serve all of our needs. When Rudy got his Ford Expedition in June, we knew we needed a road trip to test its merits. We re-hatched our plan to travel west. The plan was derailed twice due to circumstances, but we were determined to make it this time.

So we planned our route using travel days of 7 to 8 hours per day of driving to avoid night driving and arrive at destinations at a reasonable time. Rudy packed up the vehicle and included camping gear in case it was necessary or feasible along with our regular travelling stuff: clothes, snacks, drinks and a few gifts.

Day one wheels up at 9 am. Our destination is Wawa Ontario. The weather is perfect and we set off via Hwy 26 to 400 North. The landscape is rugged and beautiful. Trees are just starting to show their true colours and the ribbon of highway never ends. I’ve booked us into accommodations in Wawa and when doing so discovered that a lot of venues are sold out. I thought that strange, but everywhere we went there was lots of people, buses and transport trucks.

Wawa was a bit underwhelming, the place I wanted to book was sold out so we chose another place located on the highway just outside of town (thereby missing the infamous Wawa goose). When we pulled into the motel there was a food truck out front featuring East Indian cuisine. The motel consisted of adjoining rooms and cabins in the back area. Rudy went to check things out and came back declaring that we had been upgraded to a cabin. Upgrade may be too generous. I didn’t take pictures. We had a light bite at the food truck: burgers. And we sat outside on our “porch” to eat. I joined a bird watching group online and was able to add to my life list of birds: a common raven. Rudy was up most of the night because we felt a bit unsafe.

Up early, for good reason, we take off for Fort Frances our last stop in Ontario. The drive was lovely again thanks to perfect weather. And we entered an area with more hills and lakes. The rocks remain also. Gas is pricey: $1.47 per litre! We stop in Thunder Bay for lunch and were pleasantly surprised by the vibrancy of the city. Of course the fabulous weather had people out and about! After lunch we continued the journey and arrived in Fort Frances. Our accommodations at La Place Rendezvous were located on the lake and river system that adjoins to the US. Again, the hotel was fully booked! Since we had a substantial lunch we decided to try the chef’s borscht soup: it was delicious!

On day three we are heading to Regina. We leave early in hopes to arrive at our accommodations on time. The weather is, again, outstanding. We pass Falcon Lake (where we will stay on the return journey). Our lunch pit stop is outside of Winnipeg; and it’s a busy stop for food and gas with lots of other travellers. We arrive in Regina at Stone Hall Castle. It’s a medieval “castle” right across from the university of Regina. Our host recommends a place on the lake for dinner and we are eager to get back to watch the Bills play in the Thursday night game. There’s a theatre room in the castle with a giant projection screen. Since our destination the following day is Medicine Hat Alberta, we have extra time in the morning to enjoy our surroundings.

The castle is an interesting place. The owner has lovingly restored it to medieval splendour by procuring pieces from the day. It’s definitely the most unique place we’ve ever stayed! Bonus: the Bills won!

After a relaxing morning at the castle, we head to a pastry shop for a small snack, coffee and off we go. Destination: Medicine Hat

The drive is sunny and smooth. And only 5 hours from Regina! We arrive at my brother’s place late afternoon. It’s a hot, sunny 31C as we are greeted in the backyard. How nice to see John and Tam! Their home is a spacious and beautifully updated (they are DIY royalty!!) and big. We are delighted to spend two nights in their bright and cosy spare bedroom.

We are able to see my brother’s colleague from work and his wife as we nosh on yummy food. Cigars are fired up and an evening is spent covering all manner of things. In the morning we have coffees (John is a coffee snob) and eggs before heading out to tour the area. A hike through the park is followed by a quick pit stop for snacks and drinks. In the afternoon we stop by a country market in Redcliff a town adjacent to Medicine Hat. Redcliff’s claim to fame is the greenhouse capital of Canada. A farmers market offers all kinds of fresh produce and prepared foods. We grab a few things before heading back home where John and Tam prepare a feast!

In the morning we head out for breakfast at the local golf club. It’s a bustling restaurant offering a hearty breakfast and outdoor seating which we enjoy. After breakfast we head out for a walk to highlight the desert like landscape. And then we have to get going to our next destination: Calgary (with a pit stop in Vulcan).

Short but sweet. The biggest shocker for me is that John and Tam have been in their house for 20 years and it was our first time. Wow.

After leaving The Hat early afternoon, we make our way to Vulcan. I was too excited to see my friend Donna and her girls to take pictures. Vulcan is a small town that lives up to its name. There’s Star Trek references everywhere including a spaceship! Donna and her husband bought a small piece of land in town and are in the midst of building their retirement lovenest which includes a great studio space for her business: Diamond Clay Studios. She makes amazing things out of clay. My favourite is the “dink pot”. As it happens, they were hosting a family bbq and we were invited. The whole gang was there. It was grand. I spent most of the time with the newest family member,Paige, Donna’s 9 year old granddaughter. Shortly after dinner we took off for Calgary.

We spent the night in Calgary and, on the advice of John, decided to head to Jasper. Again, accommodations were scarce!

The hotel in Calgary was really great and I would highly recommend it: The Westley

It’s a Hilton property and (bonus) we used points! No charge.

The following morning, after a delicious breakfast, we carried on. First stop, Canmore which is a neat, posh little place en route to Banff. On our way there we passed by the Calgary winter Olympic installation for ski jumping. We had a quick pit stop in Canmore (which was absolutely packed on a Monday!!) before continuing on to our final destination for the next two nights.

Now the scenery has completely changed again. Goodbye desert coulees and hello majestic Rocky Mountains! The drive was gorgeous.

The highway took us past the Athabasca Glacier part of the Colombia Icefield. When we pulled off the highway for a closer look, a fellow Ontarian gave us access to the lodge parking lot where we had a short hike to the viewing area. Breathtaking!

Then on to Jasper. Luckily my brother helped us secure passes which we were required to display in our window at all times. Jasper National Park is a huge area and we were staying in the park for the next two nights.

Upon arrival at Jasper Inn and Suites we were happy to see there was a restaurant on site. Perfect for a quick bite before the Monday night game 🏈

On the final approach to Jasper, you are stunned to see the devastation of the wildfires from last year. It’s eerie and somber as you pass miles of scorched forest and then, closer to town, buildings. Mother Nature can not be more brutal. Very sad to see.

There’s simply too many things to choose from and when you’re short on time, you just have to pick a couple of must do’s that fit your personality. In reality you could spend tons of time with the amount of activities that are possible. It’s mind boggling.

We chose two things that we could do without rushing or having to drive too much. Our choices were perfect. First, a quick coffee and toast at Smitty’s. Then a short drive to the Jasper Sky Tram where we took a cable car to the peak of Whistler Mountain. The tram was damaged during the wildfire and the cables had to be replaced. They have a piece of the cable on display so you can see and touch the material. The short ride up ends at the welcome centre which encompasses a gift shop and restaurant. We walked the trail to see the views and we spotted some birds! Above the tree line there’s not much but rock and these little (noisy) birds! It was windy and cold, but the sun was shining hot and bright (I got a slight face burn).

After a short hike we enjoyed a bowl of delicious mushroom soup with a grand view. Then we descended back to the base camp and started our trek to Miette Hot Springs. Just outside of town we drove high into the mountains to enter the hot springs facility. There was a ton of parking and I’m glad it wasn’t full! We went in and the friendly staff gave us an orientation. Then we entered the pool area. There are four pools cold and colder and hot and hotter. We settled into the hot pool and relaxed for a couple of hours.

When we returned to our hotel, we were too pooped to go out again. Instead we stopped at the grocery store and I purchased some buns and cold cuts for a quick bite. Our suite had a kitchen area as well as sitting room and separate bedroom.

Next stop: Edmonton

So long Jasper. Edmonton here we come. Rudy’s daughter, Sarah and her husband David, as well as our nephew, Ben are in Edmonton. We have some visiting to do! Sarah is actually in ,Spruce Grove a nearby suburb.

We start with a quick visit to Sarah to say hello and bring dinner. Her hubby is working out of town so it was the three of us and her two cats, Biscuits and Gravy; they clearly rule the roost.

The next day we pick up Sarah and do a bit of touring around. Pit stop at the Italian Centre for coffee and sweets. We are trying not to over do it as we are meeting Ben for dinner. After we drop Sarah back at home, we freshen up before dinner. Ben, kindly, has chosen a spot in Spruce Grove where we are staying. He’s a total carnivore and he picked an amazing spot called Barbacoa.

It did not disappoint! Firstly was an Old Fashioned for Rudy. They featured a number of artisanal cocktails and this was one. Wasn’t Rudy’s favourite but it vanished nonetheless. The wine list was stellar and we chose a bold California cab sav. Yum. It paired beautifully with our food: steak tartare served with the marrow on a massive beef bone, rib steak for me, strip for Ben and filet for Rudy. Totally delicious!! We had a wonderful conversation about a million things and then called it a night. Short (too short) but very sweet.

And the next day we rolled on. First stop on our journey home: Moose Jaw

The drive was uneventful. Leaving the mountains we remarked how crazy it was that we lived in Blue Mountain, but after seeing the Rockies …. Yup. More like a small hill. But for Ontario it does the trick.

Moose Jaw was a busy place as well. We cruised through town to get a lay of the land and grab a bite. We find a place called The Crushed Can where we have a beer and a bite. Watch some sports on one of dozens of TVs. And then Rudy makes a discovery: Pac Man video game!! Turns out it was old and a bit beat up, but Rudy had a good round and we laughed about the memories we have around Ms Pac Man. Those were the days.

Before we left on our trip, a friend told us she grew up going to Falcon Lake for summer vacations. She grew up in Manitoba. As it happens, we had chosen Falcon Lake to stop for the night. Nice coincidence.

The drive from Moose Jaw to Falcon Lake was a blur of agriculture. One huge field of crops after another. But 7 hrs or so later, and after passing the centre of Canada just past Winnipeg, we made our way to The Hotel at Falcon Lake located in a huge park. A recreational hub with lots of family oriented activities. The rooms were nicely updated and very comfortable.

Another early start heading to Terrace Bay and we are back in Ontario. The home stretch. Driving around Lake Superior is astounding. The islands, rivers, lakes and rock formations are awesome.

Our accommodations in Terrace Bay are moderate. A pine log cabin feel. But a nice restaurant attached was super handy.

Next stop is our last night on the road. We are ready to sleep in our own bed again. So heading to Espanola which is past Sault Ste Marie (where we stopped for lunch) where pulp and paper are the thing.

The day’s drive takes us along Lake Superior and the over to Lake Huron. More stunning views of green forests and blue waters. The sun continues to shine on us.

It’s our last day on the road, but with a twist. We are not going around Georgian Bay, we are going through it. Via the famous Chi-chi-Mon Ferry from Manitoulin Island to Tobermory.

The drive from Espanola to South Baymouth (where we catch the ferry) is just over an hour. We arrive early enough to get our car in line and then pop into a local diner for breakfast. There’s a couple of interesting gift shops featuring indigenous crafts. When we arrive at the ferry dock we are fifth or so in line. By the time we finish breakfast the line is massive. By coincidence it’s Sept 30 which is Canada’s national day of truth and reconciliation (a public holiday) so lots of activity makes sense.

We board the ferry and park as instructed. Then we are required to leave the vehicle and go to the public lounge. It’s a huge cafeteria with lots of seating and bright sunny views of the vast water.

We get a seat by the window and fetch a couple of coffees. The food offerings are great; one man in line was on his second helping of cabbage rolls. He thought they were the best ever!

As we cruise towards land there’s a lighthouse on a small island and then several more small islands appear. We slowly move into the harbour at Tobermory. Now we know the end of our epic adventure road trip is coming to a close. It’s comforting to see all of the familiar landmarks as we make our way to The Blue Mountains and we laugh again at the term “mountain”.

In all a fabulous vacation!

We had a great time. So nice to reconnect with family and friends 🩷 so amazing to see our great nation 🇨🇦 at the ground level 😊 so grateful to have met such nice people along the way. But! …..

There’s no place like home 🥰

Life takes unexpected turns. Sometimes the turn is good fortune : happy news, a promotion, baby’s first steps, being alive. And sometimes it is bad : death, illness, financial distress. If I dwell on the negative things for too long, it’s easy to get sucked into a tornado of doom and gloom. A deadly case of “what if”. My brother in law has said in the past “if you were to sit around a table with a group of friends and everyone throws their troubles onto the table, you’d want your own back once you realize what the others had for problems”. It’s true, I think.

The easiest way to see through a gloomy outlook is to focus on what is good. Spiral up rather than down. Be grateful for your blessings and share the gratefulness with others. Be thankful for where you are and the lessons you’ve learned to get there. Do unto others …

Yesterday I had time alone to reflect on recent events. Everything works out as it should according to divine plans.

My friend suffered a skiing accident many years ago and did severe damage to her knee. Over the years doctors recommended a joint replacement but being young, she left it to heal naturally. Fast forward 25 years and she has forced to undergo surgery on the knee as her leg was warping to accommodate the bum joint. She gets surgery in April and seems to be healing well. However X-rays show significant scar tissue build up impeding the proper functioning of the new knee. So this week she’s having more surgery to repair the damage. Her attitude: I’ve come this far; I’m seeing it through so I can get full mobility back. And, she says, it’s out of my hands anyway. True.

A month ago we were shocked to find out that a good friend had a brain tumour. He’d had some issues with balance and fell which prompted his wife to force him to get medical tests. The result was a 1 inch growth in his right cerebral vortex: meningioma. Surgery was performed a week later and now he’s facing weeks of rehab at a brain trauma centre. He’s having trouble with vision, walking and concentrating. He’s experiencing hallucinations and seizures. His attitude: this too shall pass.

Yesterday was a celebration of life for our friend in Florida. He was barely 80 when Alzheimer’s symptoms appeared and quickly escalated. He became easily frustrated which turned to aggression and he was a physically strong man which presented numerous safety issues. His poor wife was forced to make the decision to institutionalize him. Shortly thereafter his condition worsened and he died with his wife by his side. Her attitude: we had a wonderful life which I’m grateful for.

My husband’s golfing buddy has suffered several strokes. Two of them were severe causing prolonged issues with vision. He also suffers from debilitating rheumatoid arthritis for which he has been medicated. Then last year, he fractured his vertebrae doing routine housework. In the spring he had spinal surgery; it was successful. But the trauma caused another stroke. He was in fear of losing his driver license (which was previously the case) and needed to complete a renewal test. He was worried and already had plan B in the works; his plan was to relocate permanently (he’s a snowbird) to Florida and get his license there. He took the test and passed. His attitude: I’m relieved that I can still have my independence.

I think I could write a book detailing anecdotes just in our circle of friends; the aforementioned are just from yesterday’s conversations! Imagine what a wider circle would uncover. The point is, we all have issues and problems. But we all have blessings, too.

This week I’m having joint replacement surgery. A new hip. (Hip hip hurray) While I’m nervous and excited (the thought of a pain free existence is exhilarating) I’m also trying not to “what if” and conjure up negative scenarios. I know it’s out of my hands. So I will focus on today and the moment I’m in. And be grateful for excellent surgeons and caregivers.

As the sun rose this morning I was reminded that each day is a gift. Put problems in your back pocket and move forward with gratitude. Carpe diem.

Philippians 4:6-7: 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Must come to an end. End of life is not predictable. It’s messy. And sad. And heart wrenching. And …. You could literally go on to infinity. The end.

It’s taken me some time to gather my thoughts and ponder the end of life since my mom died on May 22 2025. Her father’s birthday. I want to share my version of her story. It’s heroic and beautiful. Just like her.

Brigitte Margarete Meroth was born in Weil Am Rhein on December 20 1936 to Margarete and Anton Meroth. She was the second of four children and the only girl. Times were tough in those days, in the small town of Oberkochen in southern Germany (Bavaria). And war broke out when my mom was a small girl. At her deathbed, her only surviving brother Peter, recalled a time when my mom and her eldest brother were sent to a farm some miles away to fetch milk, but en route they stopped to make snow angels and worried their parents sick when they didn’t return home at the normal time. The war was hard on German civilians and my mom often said that had it not been for the American aid packages of good and Hershey’s chocolates that it would have been so much worse.

After the war things started to return slowly to normal. And in 1951 my grandmother gave birth to Peter, an inquisitive youngster who my mom was charged with caring for as my grandmother owned and operated a small business selling food. So at 16 years of age my mom was actually a mom.

It was during this time that mom started lessons at a dancing school. Her partner, Reinhard Hahn, escorted her to and from the lessons with the blessing of her parents and they gave him the house key to see her home safely. On the last day of lessons around Christmas time, all of the girls brought a cake to enjoy at the after party where all of the dancers could mingle. My mom made a Baumkuchen for the event. I’m not sure how many dancers there were, but only two were important. That’s the night my mom met my dad.

After the party my dad approached my mom’s partner and asked for her key. He refused to hand it over. My dad requested again (a thinly veiled threat we are told) and Reinhard threw the key into a snow bank. My dad fished it out and proceeded to take mom home. Was it the cake? Her dance moves? A secret glance? We aren’t sure. But it was love.

From there they dated and enjoyed each others company. My mom was 16 and my dad 20. He was already working and riding a motorcycle. So they had much “spaß” (German for fun) cruising around the mountainous countryside. They were also in charge of small brother Peter and were often taken as his parents when they pushed him through town in the buggy.

My mom also took on an apprenticeship as a bookkeeper after highschool. She was assigned to the payroll department which in those days was manual. However, somehow she managed to arrange cash envelopes for 10,000 employees each week and balance to the “pfennig” (German for penny). Her job was very gratifying but she had an itch for adventure.

One day she returned home with immigration papers. All of the countries were looking for skilled labourers. She showed my dad. Australia, USA, Canada … all recruiting workers abroad. Just think, she thought, we can learn a new language and have a grand adventure. My dad took the papers and filled them in. A few weeks later, Canada called. If he could pass a physical and prove his merits as a millwright, his passage was clear. He told my mom he was coming to Canada. That was 1957.

My mom wrote to my dad regularly and sent packages to remind him of home. And every week on her way to or from piano lessons, she stopped in to check in on his parents and they traded news about dad. (Side note: my parents were fastidious about keeping things but no letters are among treasures).

It’s now 1958. My dad has been gone for almost 2 years. My mom is a lovely young professional lady of 23 years of age. She’s popular and outgoing. And she catches the eye of Rasmus Jantzen, a young student on internship as a professional accountant. (I should add here that girls in those days didn’t go to post secondary education although I know my mom wanted to; all of her brothers did and had exemplary positions). Young Rasmus was smitten by mom and he wanted to date her. They went out in groups a few times. In late November/December of 1958 my mom’s latest letter to my dad had gone without reply. She was in a quandary. Hold out for her soul mate which was now a question mark or dive in with the professional accountant (who was now also very friendly with her younger brother Claus. What to do?

Close to Christmas, my mom was on her weekly trek up the hill to my dad’s parents to say hello. When she knocked, my dad answered the door! He hadn’t responded to her letter as he was in transit on a ship heading home. Good bye Rasmus. (Just to say, Rasmus returned to university and when his internship resumed he inquired about my mom and was told she’d gotten married … he was quite crushed).

So it was on. My dad proposed. My mom accepted. They would immigrate to Canada. Only one small glitch: religion. My mom’s family was very Catholic and my dad was Protestant. Not an easy thing. At first the priest refused to marry them. So they arranged a civil ceremony which was held on January 7 1959. The church gave in and married them on January 9 1959 on the condition that my dad swore to raise any offspring of the marriage as catholic. I think my dad secretly had his fingers crossed behind his back.

My dad returned to Canada first in January and my mom followed in March. Poor thing. Canada in March is pitiful. Cold. Dreary. Wet. Icy. Gray. It doesn’t get much worse weather wise. She flew in to Toronto and my dad and his brother picked her up in my uncle’s Cadillac. It had hardly any floorboards; my mom’s feet got soaked. And her outfit dirtied. Not the best start to her new adventure. Things didn’t look up when my dad brought her to their flat in Stratford Ontario (my uncle’s porch!) To make matters worse, my uncle’s son was a busy toddler and my mom had flashbacks to the reason she wanted to get away: babysitting kids! According to my dad she cried a lot and at one point he offered to send her back. No way. Mom dug her heels in and stayed.

They both worked at a local factory FAG Bearings (now Scheffler) a German ball bearing factory. My mom started in the factory and was soon promoted to the office where she displayed her bookkeeping and payroll skills.

Soon they were able to save enough to move into a new place of their own. And shortly thereafter they bought a house on McManus Rd. It was a bit out of town (Stratford) but the price was right. It needed work but they were up to the task and made it a home. A home where they could raise a family.

In 1964 I was born followed by my sister Christine in 1966 and brother John in 1968. My mom was a natural as a mom. She quit her job and doted on me. She made special cakes. Sewed clothes. Made everything from scratch (even though Canadian ingredients were strange). Just after her migration to Canada , her father shipped a container of things for her which included dishes and linens and a handmade sewing chest that he’d made and many other things. The German tradition carried on in our house.

My mom had three little kids, no drivers licence or car, very little English skills but somehow she was able to do it all. With love and patience and kindness and gentleness. (I’m crying now …) my dad even held up his bargain and drove us to church every Sunday. Immaculate Conception. My sister and I were both baptized there.

We were all quite happy on the little rural property but when my sister was diagnosed with severe allergies and the doctor advised that it was something in the house they decided to move.

In 1969 they moved to a newer subdivision that my mom had selected. A split level 3 bedroom 2 bath home on a large lot. 318 Britannia Street would be our home for the next several decades.

It was a great neighbourhood with lots of young families with kids. My parents soon became very friendly with the German couple next door. And, since my brother was born, church wasn’t a priority for dad and so mom walked my sister and I to the Lutheran church up the street and we later went to Sunday school alone and she met us after.

In the early years my mom and the neighbour would pack picnics and we went on trips to the beach. Later on the two couples developed a weekly card game night. We got pizza and it was great! My mom loved to dance and they enjoyed dancing dates with other couples. Of course, when we were young, babysitters were out of the question. The one night a year we had a sitter was New Year’s Eve. Otherwise my mom was the quintessential mother hen. She never left her eggs! Ever!

My mom was the best nurse. If we aren’t feeling well she was our caregiver. Her gentle touch as she placed a cold cloth on our heads. Her soft hands gently rubbing our backs while we threw up. Always so loving and caring.

We pissed her off routinely as we got older but her anger was quickly diverted. Her job one in life was being a mom. But when my brother finally reached fulltime school age, she looked for a part time job. One where she could walk or bike (no car and no licence remember?) and also one where she could see us off to school and be there upon our return. It wasn’t long before she started at Beaver Lumber; a local lumberyard that was near our house. Her boss, Mr Wray, was grateful for her precise skills and organizing his books. He knew lumber but not numbers. Mom took great pride in her work and was respected and liked.

Once we were all in highschool and beyond (in my case), my mom looked for something full time. It wasn’t long before she landed a job with the provincial government as a bookkeeper at The Ministry of Transportation. It was important to her that her kids were educated. She drilled it into our brains from an early age. And since education isn’t free and they were getting by on one and half incomes, she knew her extra earnings would allow us to attend post secondary. Her life was her kids and she did anything and everything for us. Always.

As we left the nest (me first) she feathered our new mini nests. Making sure we had the comforts of home while we were away. Making food. Finding necessary supplies. You name it. (Still no car or license). Including paying for every single cent. I still don’t know how she managed. My brother and sister were both professional students for many years. Mom never complained. She worked solely to provide for us. We were her life in every way.

Once we were all moved on and settled, mom and dad were on their own. Mom rekindled her hobbies: sewing, knitting, yoga, gardening. She was simple and humble. Never extravagant (unless it was something for the kids) Mom had a handful of friends but preferred to be at home in the kitchen or laundry room. TV wasn’t a big deal except, maybe, for Lawrence Welk. They didn’t travel much because mom often got motion sickness. She was the definitive homebody. And she loved family gatherings. Whoever we brought to the table was welcome and treated like family. Anyone I meet now that knew mom still remarks about her genuine hospitality and generosity. That was our family motto after all: in this house we share.

Mom loved to take us shopping and buy special little things. She loved being in the know on current events and gossip. And she especially enjoyed being “one of the girls”. But she was very proper and sophisticated in that foul language and obscene behaviour (chasing boys for example) was frowned upon. We certainly gave her some challenges.

Much later, at the age of 63, my mom retired after 18 years at the ministry. She worked until she was entitled to a pension and benefits. Again for the family. My dad had already retired and so they were together,alone, once again.

Mom had great plans for her retirement. She wanted to learn to paint. She wanted to volunteer at nursing homes. She was a social butterfly. However, various health set backs made that impossible. So she travelled several times a week to our farm in Campbellville with my dad and helped out while Rudy and I worked. We worked a lot so the help was great. But the benefit was a flexible schedule allowing me to get home early when mom and dad were there. We would play cards and have dinner.

There was lots of activities around our place: 100 acres of bush and trails and trees that my dad revelled in and four cats and three dogs that my mom could feed and pamper (always the nurturer) as well as take care of Rudy’s dress shirts for work (he always told her she was way better than any dry cleaner and she would beam). She fed our animals so well with leftovers from 318 Britannia St that we called their enormous poops 318’s. It’s stuck to this day!

Sadly, mom’s health issues continued to plague her: macular degeneration being the worst; her inability to see clearly was debilitating and impacted her quality of life. All of her favourite things, including reading, were vaporizing. And the downhill slide began. Mom, who never complained, lamented her decline. I never thought I would be like this, she would say. And as hard as we tried to come up with options and suggestions, her stubborn self had decided that it was it was.

After a few falls and minor bone fractures over the last years, it was a fall last summer on July 3 that was the final blow. From there mom’s cognitive decline was extreme and her mobility shattered. She required 24 hour care and supervision which my dad provided with some outside professional help. It was utterly painful to watch such a vibrant superior woman decline. And quickly.

On May 19 with my sister luckily on hand, mom developed a brain bleed that could not be controlled. Her family, including younger brother Peter, her kids and their spouses and her beloved grandson Ben, and of course my dad gathered around her hospital bed until she took her last breath on May 22 at 7:40 am.

She looked so peaceful and serene. No pain or worry in her face. Just calm.

But the thing that sticks out for me during the three days at her side before she died was her hands. I looked at them as I held them in my own and thought: I will never feel her gentle, loving touch again; she will never touch my head and call me “Kind” ( German for child) or stroke my cheek. Her hands will only be in my memory.

I will always remember my mom as the best mom she was. And honour her deep spirituality as I carry on my life until we meet again. Godspeed, Mom; I love you.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Guatemala is the largest of the Central American countries and we docked in the port city of Puerto Quetzal. The Quetzal is both the national bird and the currency of Guatemala a country of about 18M people and the gateway to Mexico.

Again, no cruise ship tours were appealing so our group of four opted for a private tour to Antigua. Antigua is about 90 minutes of very bumpy driving away from the coast. But the drive is worth it.

The highway is under construction and takes you through a beautiful canyon between active and dormant volcanoes. At one point we pass a section of burnt out homes and our guide, Moises (pronounced Moses), lets us know that the volcano erupted and occupants fled while their homes burned to the ground. All that remains are cinder blocks.

We approach the city in a round about way. It’s a colonial settlement dating back almost 500 years. The original old section is walled and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a result, it’s a very safe place for locals and tourists. We are told that it is common knowledge where the “narcos” are and everyone avoids those areas.

Our driver drops us off at the edge of the town where we follow Moises on the cobbled streets. First stop is a coffee shop.

We continue into the town which is bustling with families enjoying their Sunday in the city. There’s a lot of activity including street vendors, markets and outdoor food stands.

The Spanish colonialists have a very strong presence but indigenous cultures remain. It was considered a sign of nobility to be Spanish rather than Mayan. Today it’s a vibrant blend of cultures and there are over 20 Mayan dialects. Tribes are usually represented in the mountain areas where agriculture is common. But many venture into the city for work or to sell their wares. Many of the markets are full of traditional wares such as woven goods, leather and other handicrafts. There are many lol superstitions and rituals including animal sacrifices (Moises pointed out hawks circling in the mountains and explained it was likely a sacrificial ritual that attracted them).

One such Mayan legend is Nagual and the spin that Moises had was that you could conjur up a Nagual similar to a guardian angel.

Next stop was lunch. We went to a local restaurant owned and operated by a Swiss chef who met his true love while vacationing in Guatemala. 19 years before. we enjoyed a local beer with our lunch.

After lunch we continued our walk through the old town.

We take the bumpy ride back to our ship. At the port there is another market and several bars/eateries. However we are pooped. It’s been a long hot day.

Since none of the cruise excursion offerings was appealing, we chose to book a day trip through Viator. The day was described as a 10 in 1 to experience the area in a short amount of time. What sold us was the air conditioned van and English guide. We were to meet our guide at the gates of the cruise port. All of the shore excursion busses were lined up next to the ship, but we had to walk past the buses and head to the entry gate. There were a number of vans parked there and our guide was holding a sign as described. Super easy.

Our guide, Juan, was excellent in English and he introduced to the driver and a trainee who would be joining us. We were a party of 4 and there was another couple. So the 6 of us plus tour staff were comfortably seated in a newer Mercedes Sprinter van. Nice seats, plenty of room and AC.

Juan explained the itinerary to us. And we set off.

Just outside of the coastal city, Puntarenas, we travel on a dirt road off the beaten path. We are en route to a monkey sanctuary.

We were able to feed the monkeys which caused a frenzy. Juan warned us not to wear reflective sunglasses so as not to startle the monkeys. Capuchin monkeys are generally friendly and these are used to human interaction. They were more concerned about the snacks!

Next stop was a local fruit stand. We were able to try fresh exotic fruits.

There are abundant Native fruits that, along with fresh flowers, make up the bulk of exports.

So delicious!

Right across the road from the fruit stand was a bridge where Juan told us we could see crocodiles.

On our way back to the van, we also discovered a souvenir tent. Interesting things!

Next stop was a tropical hotel where a replica colonial village was set up. We were informed that the property had been recently acquired by Marriott and the transition would be complete by next year. It was a lovely stroll.

After the colonial village we drove alongside the river through the jungle to meet our river boat. A cruise up the river in search of crocs and other significant wildlife. We are told by Juan that the entire country is eco friendly and all flora and fauna are protected.

There are hundreds of Bird species and birding enthusiasts will be very happy!

After the river tour we make our way to lunch. But not before stopping to see the howler monkeys. Perched high in the trees their howl is a unique sound between despair and growl. Howler Monkeys lounge on the branches while making their distinctive noises.

There’s also an abundance of teak trees.

Next stop: lunch

Perched high on a hilltop and surrounded by volcanic hills is the stop for lunch. Juan has taken our orders ahead of time and lunch is waiting for us. We are enjoying the shady breeze and the incredible views.

Heading back to our ship, we drive through the port town of Puntarenas. Juan points out a few highlights: soccer fields, bars and church. In that order he jokes.

A great day that I would highly recommend. Lots of expats have retired here and homes are between $200K and more. The US dollar equals $500 in local currency. It’s safe and clean. Lots of modern technology mixed in with local cultures and flavours.

It’s a sunny scorching hot day in Panama as we approach the canal. Dozens of ships are lined up to enter the passageway and we slink past in our cruise ship. There’s a pilot brought on board and he is the conduit between the ship and the canal engineers. Also in the bridge are the ship’s captain and the destination speaker (who I think is terrific). She’s going to colour commentate the entire passage.

I went to her talk about the canal and found it to be very interesting and informative. She recommended that we be mobile in order to get a full view of the transit. What we didn’t count on in the equation was the blistering heat.

When we woke up the ship was slowly making its way to the first set of locks. There’s a total of 6. The canal is super narrow. So there’s tug boats to assist in making the entry. Once the ship is entering, there are mechanical mules which cast cables to the ship; these cables pull the ship along into the lock and prevent it from moving into the walls or doors at each end. Off to the side you can see huge targets which the mule operators use to practise tossing the cables. I call my folks to fill them in and we enjoy the first glimpses of the canal together.

The bridges are a marvel unto themselves. Long and wide, the cables on the support pillars are amazing.

As we enter the canal we head up from our cabin to the dining area at the front of the ship. Lots of people are crowding the viewing areas and due to the heat, being indoors is more tolerable. However, you have to contend with odd photos ad the glare is a factor. To our naked eye, however, the view was spectacular.

Once through the first set of locks we entered Lake Gatun. This manmade lake is fresh water and the source of water to fill the locks allowing ships to traverse the isthmus. First up then back down to sea level on the Pacific Ocean. The only man made lake larger is Lake Mead in Nevada (where Rudy and I had our “honeymoon” swim).

The lake is filled with ships and islands. It’s simply beautiful and lush. So green in contrast to the blue water.

At this time I jumped in the pool. It was so darn hot I needed a break. While in the pool, a friendly man swam up beside me while I watched the passage on the giant movie screen (they were showing the ships bow while the commentary continued). This savvy gentleman (who was on the world cruise and had been aboard since Jan 20!) told me the best place to view the transit was from deck 10 or 11 forward. He said: walk as far as you can and go through the “crew only” door then through the wooden door. I thanked him and exited the pool.

As we are in the lake, we pass the gigantic crane named “Herman the German”. It’s a massive steel crane that was built by the Germans to service Uboats during WWII. After the war it was temporarily moved to California, but it’s back on the lake.

The Giant crane is still in use.

Once I dry off, the clouds are forming and I head to the forward viewing deck. (Thanks to the pro tip). And it does not disappoint! We are heading to the next and final sets of locks and the clouds make outdoor viewing a pleasure.

The Centennial Bridge is a six lane highway that connects North and South America. A lot of the canal upgrades (bridges and new locks) were done fairly recently. It’s hard to believe that the canal is over 100 years old! Almost 30K people lost their lives – mostly French as they started the initial project unsuccessfully followed by the Americans (350 perished) who hired Caribbean workers (6000 plus perished). Roosevelt commissioned an engineer (Stevenson) who completed the task and Jimmy Carter created a treaty to return the canal to Panama 🇵🇦 which was then independent from Colombia 🇨🇴. Presently it is a contentious issue between America and China.

At this point I called my folks again so my dad could enjoy the ride. He was not disappointed! There was an outgoing ship (the car carrier) that we could watch being lowered as our ship was pulled into the canal.

Once we got into the chamber, we left the viewing deck and returned to our cabin to watch the mules. And again I called my dad so he could see the action as it happened.

So inside the chamber we are lowered by 29 feet. We head got dinner and look out of the windows on deck 6 to see the walls.

We continue the transit as we enjoy Italian night in the dining room. The commentator letting us know it was her longest transit ever. Taking almost 12 hours due to traffic in the canal.

Overall an amazing experience!

Ever since watching Romancing The Stone (Michael Douglas fans? Anyone?) , the mystic of Cartagena conjures images of adventure and intrigue. We chose a shore excursion on the Hop on bus as our mode of exploring the city.

The port is busy and very commercial. We pull in to the sheltered Bay Area in the mist and fog of early morning.

Once we are docked our meeting time for the tour is 10 am. And it’s impressive how they manoeuvre the group off the ship. Very efficient and smooth considering the vast majority of guests on board are seniors.

We are immediately hit by the muggy heat as we exit the ship and head to the bus. The tour bus is right outside the ship and we make our way to the open top (there’s no AC). We feel damp before we do anything but sit!

Our tour guide provides a bit of preliminary information: the city has just shy of 1M inhabitants, it was founded in the 1500’s, there is an old city behind the walls, and a newer section boasting high rise buildings. There’s a fort and a castle and several churches. The museum of the inquisition houses artifacts and other historical items from the inquisition era (which they promptly hid from view for the popes visit some years ago)

There is one unique feature of the port which is a free zoo and wildlife preserve.

Next stop: the canal.

There’s a natural allure to the world’s wonders, I think. Manmade or natural, the awe of the spectacles is real. Sometimes books and videos are not enough to quell the curiosity. For me one of these is the Panama Canal. So we decided to check it out for real.

Our excursion begins a mere 7 days after our winter migration is over. We leave Florida (by train as you may know) and are in Canada exactly one week; there’s a lot to squish into a week when you know you’re off again imminently. Priority one is always my folks, but other errands and priorities weigh in, too.

Flying out of Toronto is never a pleasure, and the weather (cold, rainy and generally nasty) means probable delays. We are heading to Ft Lauderdale to spend a night before we embark on the Island Princess. Pearson is busy. The people who think that travel is slow are misinformed. The airport and our flight are full.

The flight was, as expected, delayed by 35 minutes and we can see the driving rain pummel the tarmac. Once on board we settle in and the Captain informs us that he will make up some time. En route we experienced quite a bit of turbulence; luckily it’s a short flight. Only 3 hours.

We land in Ft Lauderdale and immediately feel the warmth. A can takes us to our hotel and we quickly get to bed. It’s almost 9:30 pm and a day in transit has taken its toll. The next day will be another full day of getting settled into our “home” for the next couple of weeks.

I arrange an Uber to pick us up and make a couple of stops before getting to the ship. First stop: a new Yeti for Rudy (he left his other 4 water bottles at home 🤣). Second stop: refill Rudy’s cannabis prescription as we don’t travel with anything like that. Final stop: the Island Princess.

The embarkation process is super quick and easy. We are informed that the cabin will be ready at 1:30 pm. It’s 11:30 am so we grab a seat and a cocktail.

Our cabin is D517 (the 9th floor Dolphin Deck). It’s a mini suite and we are very happy with the accommodation.

We enjoy the inter coastal view from our balcony and watch the water craft of every size and description coast by. Everything from small fishing boats to mega yachts to pontoons to commercial touring boats. And then suddenly a loud booming noise crashes into the otherwise peaceful scenery. We look up and around only to find a group of fighter jets swooping in.

It was a spectacular private air show. Wow. What a start to our adventure on the high seas!

Our dinner reservations are for 5 pm. A table for four arranged by our travelling companions awaits. But first, a welcome aboard pre dinner drink is in order.

The ship is older and smaller but it has a feeling of elegance and dignity. The common areas are beautifully decorated and full of natural light.

After dinner we are lured to our bed another transit day has sapped our energy.

The next two days are spent at sea. Eating, relaxing, strolling, eating, being entertained, drinking, sleeping, eating, reading … ahhhhh.

We make our way to Cartagena Colombia.

Trains are fascinating. They’ve been the stuff of great adventures, infamous crimes and the setting for many movies and books. Simply, they are something for everyone.

A few years ago we ventured on the Rocky Mountaineer, a beautiful (and pricey) way to see the Rocky Mountains in western Canada. It was strictly for scenic travel. This year we combined adventure and purpose by taking the Amtrak Car Train for part of our migration back to Canada from Florida.

The car train transports people and their cars from Sanford FL to Lorton VA. Here’s how our journey went:

It all started with a Google Search and adding the Amtrak app. From there we chose our date (April 22). There are a number of options for travel: coach (seats of four facing each other); roomettes (two seats facing each other that convert to bunks in a private cubicle – that’s what we chose) and bedrooms (slightly larger than a roomette and also with a private toilet – it’s what we would choose next time). Two passengers and two cars booked. The booking process was a breeze.

On the day of departure we leave our place around 11 am in order to get to the station before 2:30 pm which is the cutoff time for loading cars. It’s about 90 min from our place to Sanford. As you approach the station there’s plenty of signage and attendants to guide you. At the car check in booth you are given a magnetic number for your car to stick on the door or place in the windshield. The checkin clerk provides a pamphlet with the number written on it to you. You leave your keys in the car with the driver window down and you take what you need for the trip as your car is no longer accessible.

We walk into the station which is a large and sunny terminal with seats similar to an airport gate area. There’s a small convenience store and a food truck outside. Rudy gets us checked in and reserves our dinner. Good thing we are a bit early as there are 3 dinner seatings: 5, 7 and 9 pm. The early time is popular with seniors! We like to eat early. Sleeper passengers have meals included. Coach passengers can access the lounge for drinks and snacks and light meals (such as a burger or grilled cheese).

The boarding process is fairly quick and you leave the terminal area to walk to the train right outside the doors. Each car is numbered and you know your car and room number from check in where you get a boarding pass and dinner vouchers. Boarding starts at 2 pm.

We easily find our room which is on the second floor. It’s tiny but functional. The room is equipped with an electrical outlet (bring a multi adapter for all your devices as there’s only 1 outlet), pillows, several bottles of water and more at the comfort station and a folding table.

As we get settled in, our room attendant, Johan, greets us. We let him know we are newbies and so he gives us a few tips: 5 pm dinner is announced and everyone gets in the hallway to walk to the dining car (for us it was two cars away) so he suggested we go to the lounge prior to as the lounge is adjacent to the dining car and we can avoid the line up! Also, for breakfast the dining car opens at 6 pm for sleeper guests and then at 7 pm the coach passengers can access; his advice was to head in at 6:30 to avoid the congestion. He let us know that he would convert our room to bunk beds at around 9:15 pm as he helps with dinner service. There’s a full bathroom with showers and towels in the first level. Anything we need use the call button.

The conductor makes an announcement at around 3:30 pm to advise that we will be “coupling” and should remain seated. Shortly after there’s a few jerky bumps and then we start to roll. 4 pm departure and we are on time.

We make our way to the lounge prior to dinner. There’s a variety of beverages and we each get a libation – wine for me and gin/tonic for Rudy. In the lounge there’s seats and tables where others are playing games or just sitting. We meet some nice folks and enjoy a chat while we sip. Such interesting conversations and from all over North eastern USA.

At 5 pm they announce dinner so we shuffle to the dining area. Tables are decked out with linens and silverware. Everyone has to share a table so we meet another couple who joins us for dinner. Dinner is a menu selection of hot entrees including pasta, steak, salmon or chicken. Starting with a salad and roll and finishing with a choice of desserts. Wine or beer is complimentary with dinner.

After dinner we venture back to our room (with more libations of course) and we set up the iPad to watch downloaded shows. There’s wifi on board but it’s not streaming worthy. It’s great for playing games, texting and even a FaceTime call to my folks.

As the sun sets, we are chugging through Georgia and there’s an announcement about the paper mill in Jesup. The announcer advises that the sulphuric odour is from outside and will pass. He wasn’t kidding. Yuck!!

The Paper Mill opened in 1954 and has been smelling the area ever since.

Johan arrives after 9 pm to convert our room and I climb to the top bunk. It’s a bit tight and has no windows or much air circulation. But even so, I was able to get some sleep. I tend to toss and turn quite a bit due to pain and this was no simple feat in my bunk! I don’t know how people do it regularly… Once I heard Rudy snoring I knew things were okay.

At 6 am I could see slivers of light through our privacy curtains and I waited until 6:20 to rouse Rudy (who was still asleep and snoring). We both used the restroom and then ventured to breakfast in the dining cart. While there, Johan reconfigured our room back to a seating arrangement.

Breakfast was a choice of hot and/or cold items. Cereal, quiche, fruit and coffee were all available.

We are now in Virginia and crossing the James River. From time to time there are announcements of notable landmarks. Such as the beautiful Victorian homes of Fredericksburg, Ashland the area where Secretariat hails from and Quantico. The scenery is gorgeous!

It’s 10 am and we are rolling into the Lorton Station. We are a bit late due to traffic. Train traffic is a thing.

Off loading passengers is followed by the vehicles and there’s an announcer who lets you know what numbers are ready. I’m not sure how the numbers works but Rudy has 110 and I have 209. As it turns out, there were over 500 human passengers and over 350 vehicles on board. So the wait could be ???? Some of the people we met and chatted with said it’s random at best and unless you have priority (an extra fee and only 28 spots – sold out by the time we booked). It’s a beautiful sunny day so it’s fine with me.

The homestretch …

I think we are now “trained” enough to try this again in the future.

When I moved to Toronto as a teenager, going to the Eaton Centre was a priority. I attended college in Willowdale (Don Mills and Finch) but I was drawn like a magnet to downtown. In my uber excitement of finding a store called Simpsons which was hiring, it never occurred to me that I was looking at a 90 min commute on the TTC. That’s the public transit system in Toronto (and to this day is inadequate) which for me was a 30 to 40 minute subway followed by a 40 to 50 minute bus ride.

I will never forget finding my way to the HR department of Simpson’s and them telling me on the spot that they had openings in ladies wear on the 6th floor. It was a huge area of ladies clothing and I was going to be a floor clerk. My new boss, Betty, a wonderful woman who took great passion in her work, showed me around. There were 7 of us in the department. 2 in the fitting rooms and there were 2 at least on the floor at any time. There was no Sunday shopping then.

Simpsons was a great store and I loved many aspects of it. In 1984 or 1985, Simpsons became The Bay (short for the Hudson’s Bay Company) and I was done college. A few of my colleagues from Ladies Wear were let go. Betty took an early retirement. The Bay was less formal and reduced the personal shopping experience to more”self help”. No more staff to assist you on the floor or in the fitting rooms.

Although it was a blow, it didn’t seem too bad a first. The Bay, after all, was one of Canada’s original trading posts back in the day. It had survived a lot over the years.

One things for sure, The Bay in downtown Toronto was an iconic landmark and one of the last to convert from Simpsons. The Arcadian Court hosted many dignitaries and posh clients while the seasonal decor (especially Christmas) was a sight to behold. No road trip to Toronto was complete without an excursion to The Bay.

Today I read that The Bay was seeking bankruptcy protection. They will likely close all 80 stores. I’m so sad to hear this news. And I hope there’s something of this legacy to salvage.

For the past few weeks we have been inundated with trade wars amongst our close ally and trading partner, namely, the 🇺🇸 USA. There’s been a surge of buy local and other “team Canada” rhetoric. It makes me chuckle to think of the Starbucks franchisee that has to spin it somehow. Is a Starbucks considered Canadian if the franchisee is? It is a pretty messy request to “buy Canadian” given the very blurry lines of commerce and trade.

Which brings me to The Bay. Team (economic) Canada couldn’t save it?! I read with such dismay, some of the online comments. Some speculating on the reasons for the failure of the business:

• The managers were too greedy
• The pricing was high (compared to Walmart)
• No one shops in person anymore

There were plenty of others but I was stunned. The Team Canada folk are apparently fickle. They would rather support Amazon or Walmart for price and convenience. Isn’t it worth a higher price and inconvenient location to support Canada 🇨🇦?? I guess not.

I will forever have fond memories of The Bay and the people I worked with over the years and 3 different locations.

So long, old friend.